Damper and vibration damping structure using the same

ABSTRACT

A damper ( 7 ) includes a hollow outer elongated body ( 21 ) formed of a cylindrical member; a hollow inner elongated body ( 22 ) similarly formed of a cylindrical member; a viscous body ( 26 ) disposed in a cylindrical gap ( 25 ) between an inner surface ( 23 ) of the elongated body ( 21 ) and an outer surface ( 24 ) of the elongated body ( 22 ) in such a manner as to be in contact with the inner surface ( 23 ) and the outer surface ( 24 ) of these elongated bodies ( 21  and  22 ), respectively; rectangular attaching plate members ( 31  and  32 ) which are respectively secured to a closed-side other end portion ( 29 ), in an axial direction (X), of the elongated body ( 21 ) having one end portion ( 28 ) on an open end ( 27 ) side and to a closed-side one end portion ( 30 ) of the elongated body ( 22 ), respectively; and a holding means ( 33 ) for holding the gap ( 25 ) between the inner surface ( 23 ) of the elongated body ( 21 ) at the one end portion ( 28 ) of the elongated body ( 21 ) and the outer surface ( 24 ) of the elongated body ( 22 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a damper for damping the vibration of abuilding or the like caused by an earthquake by being installed in awall of the building or the like in the form of a diagonal brace or bybeing installed on a column of a building or the like in a verticaldirection in parallel to the column, as well as to a vibration dampingstructure in which this damper is interiorly fitted by being installedin a wall of a building in the form of a diagonal brace or by beinginstalled on a column in such a manner as to extend substantially inparallel to the column in a substantially vertical direction.

BACKGROUND ART

Techniques have already been proposed in which dampers are embedded inwalls of a building or the like to provide the walls with a vibrationdamping structure to thereby provide the overall building with avibration damping structure.

A cylinder-rod type damper having a cylinder and a rod passed throughthe cylinder as a damper of this type is used such that one end portionside of the cylinder is fixed to a column or a horizontal member in onecorner portion of a wall space defined by left and right columns andupper and lower horizontal members, and one end portion side of the rodprojecting from the cylinder is fixed to the column or horizontal memberin another corner portion on a diagonal line with respect to the onecorner portion in the wall space.

Incidentally, since it is necessary for such a damper to extend orcontract and swing with respect to the columns or the horizontal membersat the respective corner portions when the building shakes due to anearthquake and the wall space undergoes deformation, the one end portionside of the cylinder and the one end portion side of the rod arerespectively fixed swingably to the columns or the horizontal members atthe respective corner portions by means of swivel fittings or the like.However, the use of such swivel fittings or the like entails a rise inthe cost. Moreover, there is a possibility of abnormal noise beinggenerated due to the sliding in swinging, and there is a possibility ofimpairing the damping effect due to looseness in installation.

In addition, with the cylinder-rod type damper, if the cylinder and therod are made long in an attempt to generate a large damping force so asto efficiently damp vibrations due to an earthquake at an early period,the occupying space in the axial direction becomes large in theinstallation. Moreover, a thick cylinder and a large rod are inevitablyused so as not to cause deflection or the like, so that the weightbecomes extremely large. On the other hand, if the gap between thecylinder and the rod is made small, the cylinder and the rod come intocontact with each other in connection with the dimensional accuracy inthe manufacture of the cylinder and the rod. In some cases, the rodbecomes unable to move in the axial direction with respect to thecylinder.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-describedaspects, and its object is to provide a damper which with a simpleconstruction can be installed in a wall in the form of a diagonal braceor installed on a column in such a manner as to extend substantially inparallel to the column in a substantially vertical direction, and whichis capable of reducing the cost, and does not produce abnormal noise inshaking, as well as a vibration damping structure using the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a damper which iscapable of generating a large damping force without enlarging theoccupying space in the axial direction and the weight and withoutcausing an undesirable situation such as contact between the cylinderand the rod, as well as a vibration damping structure using the same.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The damper according to a first aspect of the invention comprises: atleast a hollow outer elongated body and an inner elongated body, theinner elongated body including an inserted portion which has an outersurface extending in an axial direction and disposed with a gap withrespect to an axially extending inner surface of the outer elongatedbody, and which is inserted in the outer elongated body so as to berelatively movable in the axial direction, and one end portion whichintegrally extends from the inserted portion in the axial direction andprojects to the outside from one axial end portion of the outerelongated body, a viscous body or a viscoelastic body being disposed inthe gap between the inner surface of the outer elongated body and theouter surface of the inner elongated body in such a manner as to be incontact with the inner surface and the outer surface, a one-sideattaching plate member being secured to another end portion of the outerelongated body, an other-side attaching plate member being secured tothe one end portion of the inner elongated body.

In accordance with the damper according to the first aspect, byconnecting this damper to such as columns and horizontal members bymeans of the respective attaching plate members, the inner elongatedbody is relatively moved in the axial direction with respect to theouter elongated body in the relative vibration of, for instance, thelower horizontal member with respect to the upper horizontal member in ahorizontal direction within the plane of the wall space owing to anearthquake or the like. In consequence, the viscous body or theviscoelastic body disposed in the gap between the inner surface of theouter elongated body and the outer surface of the inner elongated bodyis caused to undergo viscous shear deformation and is capable ofabsorbing the relative vibrational energy. Further, the damper can besimply and firmly connected to the columns, the horizontal members, orthe like by means of the respective attaching plate members instead ofthe swivel fittings, through, for example, frictional joining using thesplice plates and the like for clamping the attaching plate members atwide attaching surfaces of the attaching plate members. Therefore, it ispossible to install the damper in the wall with a simple construction inthe form of a diagonal brace or in parallel to the column, and it ispossible to lower the cost. Moreover, abnormal noise does not occur inthe shaking, and looseness in installation does not occur. Additionally,it is possible to attain low cost and obtain firm connection.

In the invention, the damper may be comprised of a single outerelongated body and a single inner elongated body. Alternatively,however, the damper may be constructed by providing a plurality of setsof the outer elongated body and the inner elongated body, by integratingthe plurality of outer elongated bodies by being secured to each other,by using the one-side attaching plate member in common by being securedto respective other end portions of the plurality of outer elongatedbodies, and by using the other-side attaching plate member in common bybeing secured to the plurality of inner elongated bodies.

In the invention, the one-side attaching plate member may be secured tothe other end portion of the outer elongated body by means of a collarmember or a cover member. In this case, however, it suffices if thecollar member or the cover member is secured to the other end portion ofthe outer elongated body by welding or the like, and the one-sideattaching plate member is secured to the collar member or the covermember by welding, bolts or the like.

In the damper in accordance with the invention, it suffices if thecollar member or the cover member is secured to the other end portion ofthe outer elongated body by welding or the like, and the other-sideattaching plate member is secured to the collar member or the covermember by welding, bolts or the like.

In the case where the filled viscous body or viscoelastic body is set ina hermetically sealed state, the damper should preferably comprise:control means for controlling an increase or decrease of the internalpressure of the viscous body or the viscoelastic body in the extensionor retraction of the inserted portion of the inner elongated body in theaxial direction with respect to an interior of the outer elongated body.

In the damper according to this first aspect, the gap and at least oneof the outer and the inner elongated bodies have the relationship of thefollowing formulae (1) and (2):10≦d·t≦100  (1)0.5≦t/d≦8  (2)

where d is the thickness of the gap in a direction perpendicular to theaxial direction, and t is the thickness of at least one of the outer andthe inner elongated bodies in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection.

In the damper in accordance with the invention, the viscous body or theviscoelastic body disposed in the gap is caused to undergo sheardeformation by the relative axial movement of the inner elongated bodywith respect to the outer elongated body, so as to generate a dampingforce. Thus the vibrations of the building or the like due to anearthquake are damped. Hence, the magnitude of the damping force isinversely proportional to the thickness d of the gap in a directionperpendicular to the axial direction. Consequently, it is necessary forthe elongated bodies to have strength capable of withstanding thedamping force of a magnitude proportional to such a thickness d. If theproduct (d-t) of the thickness d and the thickness t of the elongatedbody in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is less than10, the elongated body becomes strengthwise weak with respect to thedamping force generated. In some cases, therefore, the damper is unableto withstand the damping force generated, and has the possibility ofbecoming bent. On the other hand, if the product (d·t) is greater than100, the thickness t becomes more than is necessary in comparison withthe magnitude of the damping force generated. Hence, the damper becomeslarge in weight and diameter, which constitutes a factor for increasedcost.

In addition, in the damper in accordance with the invention, the viscousbody or the viscoelastic body generates heat in the repeated sheardeformation of the viscous body or the viscoelastic body in a shortperiod of time. However, unless this heat is caused to escapeefficiently and speedily, the viscosity or the viscoelasticity of theviscous body or the viscoelastic body declines, and there is apossibility that an intended damping force fails to be generated. If theratio (t/d) between the thickness t and the thickness d is smaller than0.5, in most cases, the heat capacity of the elongated bodies becomessmaller than the heat capacity of the viscous body or the viscoelasticbody, so that the heat generated in the viscous body or the viscoelasticbody fails to escape efficiently and speedily through the elongatedbodies. Hence, a temperature rise of the viscous body or theviscoelastic body itself occurs, and there is a possibility that theintended damping force fails to be generated.

Furthermore, in the damper in accordance with the invention, from theperspective of not causing the temperature rise in the viscous body orthe viscoelastic body itself, the ratio (t/d) should preferably be notless than 0.5. However, if the ratio (t/d) becomes greater than 8, thedamper becomes large in weight and diameter, as described above.Furthermore, large pressure fluctuations occur in the viscous body orthe viscoelastic body in slight axial movement of the inner elongatedbody with respect to the outer elongated body, and it becomes difficultto efficiently damp the vibration of the building or the like due to theearthquake.

Accordingly, with this damper, since the product (d·t) is not less than10 and not more than 100, and the ratio (t/d) is not less than 0.5 andnot more than 8, the strength is sufficiently ensured irrespective ofthe magnitude of the thickness d. Moreover, it becomes possible toprovide the damper having the weight and diameter corresponding to themagnitude of the damping force generated. Further, it is possible toallow the heat generated in the viscous body or the viscoelastic body toescape efficiently and speedily through the elongated bodies andeliminate a temperature rise of the viscous body or the viscoelasticbody itself, thereby making it possible to generate an intended dampingforce. Additionally, since large pressure fluctuations are not caused inthe viscous body or the viscoelastic body even in the relative axialmovement of the inner elongated body with respect to the outer elongatedbody, it becomes possible to efficiently damp the vibration of thebuilding or the like caused by the earthquake.

The damper according to another aspect of the invention comprises: ahollow outer elongated body, an inner elongated body, and at least onehollow intermediate elongated body, the intermediate elongated bodyincluding an inserted portion which has an outer surface extending in anaxial direction and disposed with a gap with respect to an axiallyextending inner surface of the outer elongated body, and which isinserted in the outer elongated body so as to be relatively movable inthe axial direction, the inner elongated body including an insertedportion which has an outer surface extending in the axial direction anddisposed with a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surfaceof the intermediate elongated body, and which is inserted in theintermediate elongated body so as to be relatively movable in the axialdirection, a viscous body or a viscoelastic body being disposed in therespective gaps between the inner surface of the outer elongated bodyand the outer surface of the intermediate elongated body and between theinner surface of the intermediate elongated body and the outer surfaceof the inner elongated body in such a manner as to be in contact withthe inner surfaces and the outer surfaces.

In accordance with the damper according to this aspect, by connectingthis damper to such as columns and horizontal members by means of therespective attaching plate members, in the relative vibration of, forinstance, the lower horizontal member with respect to the upperhorizontal member in a horizontal direction within the plane of the wallspace owing to an earthquake or the like, the viscous body or theviscoelastic body is caused to undergo viscous shear deformation by therelative axial movement of the intermediate elongated body with respectto the outer elongated body and by the relative axial movement of theinner elongated body with respect to the intermediate elongated body.Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively absorb the relativevibrational energy as compared with the damper according to theabove-described aspect. In other words, it is possible to obtain thedamping force based on the viscous body or the viscoelastic bodydisposed in the gap between the inner surface of the intermediateelongated body and the outer surface of the inner elongated body, inaddition to the damping force based on the viscous body or theviscoelastic body disposed in the gap between the inner surface of theouter elongated body and the outer surface of the intermediate elongatedbody. As a result, the damping force generated can be increased withoutenlarging the occupying space in the axial direction and the weight andwithout causing an undesirable situation such as the mutual contactbetween the elongated bodies attributable to an extremely narrow gap.

In the case where the filled viscous body or viscoelastic body is set ina hermetically sealed state, the damper according to this aspect shouldpreferably further comprise: control means for controlling an increaseor decrease of the internal pressure of the viscous body or theviscoelastic body due to the extension or retraction of the intermediateelongated body with respect to an interior of the outer elongated bodyand the extension or retraction of the inner elongated body with respectto an interior of the intermediate elongated body.

Also in the damper according to this other aspect, at least one of thegaps and at least one of the outer and the inner elongated bodies andthe intermediate elongated body should preferably have the relationshipof the aforementioned formulae (1) and (2). In the case of thisembodiment, d is the thickness of at least one of the gaps in adirection perpendicular to the axial direction, and t is the thicknessof at least one of the outer and the inner elongated bodies and theintermediate elongated body in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection.

In the invention, the damper may be constructed by respectively singleouter, inner, and intermediate elongated bodies. Alternatively, however,the damper may be constructed by providing a plurality of sets of theouter elongated body, at least one hollow intermediate elongated body,and the inner elongated body, by integrating the plurality of outerelongated bodies by being secured to each other, by using the one-sideattaching plate member in common by being secured to respective otherend portions of the plurality of outer elongated bodies and respectiveone end portions of the inner elongated bodies, respectively, and byusing the other-side attaching plate member in common by being securedto respective one end portions of the plurality of intermediateelongated bodies.

In this damper as well, the one-side attaching plate member may besecured to the other end portion of the outer elongated body and the oneend portion of the inner elongated body by means of a collar member or acover member. In this case as well, it suffices if the collar member orthe cover member is secured to the other end portion of the outerelongated body and the one end portion of the inner elongated body bywelding or the like, and the one-side attaching plate member is securedto the collar member or the cover member by welding, bolts or the like.

In the damper in accordance with the invention, it suffices if thecollar member or the cover member is secured to the one end portion ofthe intermediate elongated body by welding or the like, and theother-side attaching plate member is secured to the collar member or thecover member by welding, bolts or the like.

The damper according to still another aspect of the invention comprises:a hollow outer elongated body, an inner elongated body, and at least twohollow intermediate elongated bodies, one of the intermediate elongatedbodies including an inserted portion which has an outer surfaceextending in an axial direction and disposed with a gap with respect toan axially extending inner surface of the outer elongated body, andwhich is inserted in the outer elongated body so as to be relativelymovable in the axial direction, another one of the intermediateelongated bodies including an inserted portion which has an outersurface extending in the axial direction and disposed with a gap withrespect to an axially extending inner surface of the one intermediateelongated body, and which is inserted in the one intermediate elongatedbody so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, the innerelongated body including an inserted portion which has an outer surfaceextending in the axial direction and disposed with a gap with respect toan axially extending inner surface of the other intermediate elongatedbody, and which is inserted in the other intermediate elongated body soas to be relatively movable in the axial direction, a viscous body or aviscoelastic body being disposed in the respective gaps between theinner surface of the outer elongated body and the outer surface of theintermediate elongated body, between the inner surface of the oneintermediate elongated body and the outer surface of the otherintermediate elongated body, and between the inner surface of the otherintermediate elongated body and the outer surface of the inner elongatedbody in such a manner as to be in contact with the inner surfaces andthe outer surfaces.

In accordance with the damper according to this aspect, in the same wayas the dampers according to the above-described aspects, by connectingthis damper to such as columns and horizontal members by means of therespective attaching plate members, in the relative vibration of, forinstance, the lower horizontal member with respect to the upperhorizontal member in a horizontal direction within the plane of the wallspace owing to an earthquake or the like, the viscous body or theviscoelastic body is caused to undergo viscous shear deformation by therelative axial movement of the one intermediate elongated body and theinner elongated body with respect to the outer elongated body and theother intermediate elongated body. Accordingly, it is possible to farmore effectively absorb the relative vibrational energy as compared withthe dampers according to the first and the other aspects. As a result,the damping force generated can be increased without enlarging theoccupying space in the axial direction and the weight and withoutcausing an undesirable situation such as the contact among the outer andinner elongated bodies and the at least two hollow intermediateelongated bodies.

In the case where the filled viscous body or viscoelastic body is set ina hermetically sealed state, the damper according to this aspect shouldalso preferably further comprise: control means for controlling anincrease or decrease of the internal pressure of the viscous body or theviscoelastic body due to the extension or retraction of the oneintermediate elongated body and the inner elongated body, respectively,with respect to respective interiors of the outer elongated body and theother intermediate elongated body.

Also in the damper according to this aspect, at least one of the threegaps and at least one of the outer and the inner elongated bodies andthe at least two intermediate elongated body should preferably have therelationship of the aforementioned formulae (1) and (2). In the case ofthis embodiment, d is the thickness of at least one of the three gaps ina direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and t is the thicknessof at least one of the outer and the inner elongated bodies and the atleast two intermediate elongated bodies in the direction perpendicularto the axial direction.

In the damper according to this aspect as well, the damper may beconstructed by respectively single elongated bodies of the outer andinner elongated bodies and two intermediate elongated bodies.Alternatively, however, the damper may be constructed by providing aplurality of sets of the outer elongated body, at least two hollowintermediate elongated bodies, and the inner elongated body, byintegrating the plurality of outer elongated bodies by being secured toeach other, by using the one-side attaching plate member in common bybeing secured to respective other end portions of the plurality of outerelongated bodies and respective one end portions of the plurality ofother intermediate elongated bodies, and by using the other-sideattaching plate member in common by being secured to respective one endportions of the plurality of one intermediate elongated bodies andrespective one end portions of the plurality of inner elongated bodies.

In the damper according to this aspect as well, the one-side attachingplate member may be secured to the other end portion of the outerelongated body and the one end portion of the other intermediateelongated body by means of a collar member or a cover member. In thiscase as well, it suffices if the collar member or the cover member issecured to the other end portion of the outer elongated body and the oneend portion of the other intermediate elongated body by welding or thelike, and the one-side attaching plate member is secured to the collarmember or the cover member by welding, bolts or the like.

In this damper as well, it suffices if the collar member or the covermember is secured to the one end portion of the one intermediateelongated body and the one end portion of the inner elongated body bywelding or the like, and the other-side attaching plate member issecured to the collar member or the cover member by welding, bolts orthe like.

It should be noted that the damper in accordance with the invention isrigidly connected to the columns and the horizontal members by means ofthe attaching plate member, for instance, in the direction within thewall plane. However, in the relative vibration of the lower horizontalmember in the horizontal direction within the wall plane with respect tothe upper horizontal member due to an earthquake, the damper inaccordance with the invention may be adapted to follow this relativevibration by the mutual relative axial movement of the outer elongatedbody and the inner elongated body, by the mutual relative axial movementof the outer elongated body and the inner elongated body, on the onehand, and the intermediate elongated body, on the other hand, or by themutual relative axial movement of the outer elongated body and the otherintermediate elongated body, on the one hand, and the one intermediateelongated body and the inner elongated body, on the other hand, andadditionally by slight deflection of the respective elongated bodies.

The vibration damping structure in accordance with the inventioncomprises the damper, wherein the damper is connected to a column or ahorizontal member by means of the one-side attaching plate member andone connecting means secured to the one-side attaching plate member, andis connected to a column or a horizontal member by means of theother-side attaching plate member and another connecting means securedto the other-side attaching plate member.

According to this vibration damping structure, as a result of the factthat the damper is connected to the columns or the horizontal members bymeans of the attaching plate members and the connecting means, thebuilding can be damped, and it is possible to minimize damages due to anearthquake.

The vibration damping structure according to another aspect has thedamper, and the damper is connected to a column or a horizontal memberby means of the one-side attaching means and one connecting meansattached to the one-side attaching means, and is connected to ahorizontal member or a column by means of the other-side attaching meansand another connecting means attached to the other-side attaching means.

According to the vibration damping structure of this aspect, as a resultof the fact that the damper is connected to the columns or thehorizontal members by means of the respective connecting means, thebuilding can be damped, and it is possible to minimize damages due to anearthquake.

The buildings to which the damper of the invention is applied includeboth public and private enterprise-use or office buildings, multipledwelling houses including apartment houses, detached houses, and thelike, and may be either newly constructed or existing buildings.

As the viscous body used in the invention, one whose viscosity at 30° C.is 1000 Pa·s to 50,000 Pa·s is preferable. In addition, as theviscoelastic body used in the invention, one whose coefficient ofequivalent viscous damping is 20% to 50% is preferable. In the presentinvention, however, the viscous body or the viscoelastic body is notnecessarily limited to the same, and it suffices if the viscous body orthe viscoelastic body is capable of obtaining the above-describedeffects. Further, the viscous body used in the invention mayspecifically be such a viscous body as ordinary silicone oil or thelike. However, as preferable examples, it is possible to cite highmolecular viscous bodies such as polyisobutylene, polypropylene,polybutane, dimethylpolysiloxane, and the like, or asphalt or the like,but it is possible to use other viscous bodies. In addition, as theviscoelastic body used in the invention, it is possible to specificallycite, by way of example, natural rubber, synthetic rubber,polybutadiene, liquid synthetic rubber such as polyisoprene, one mixedwith the aforementioned viscous body, and the like. However, otherviscoelastic bodies may be used.

Furthermore, in the invention, spacer members may be disposed betweenthe respective elongated bodies in such a manner as to be in contactwith the elongated bodies so as to maintain the gap. Such a spacermember may be an endless annular member. Alternatively, however,separate spacer pieces which partially come into contact with theelongated bodies may be used. As a preferable specific example of thedepth d of the gap, it is possible to cite 1 mm to 5.5 mm orthereabouts.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide adamper which with a simple construction can be installed in a wall inthe form of a diagonal brace or installed on a column in such a manneras to extend in parallel to the column in a vertical direction, andwhich is capable of reducing the cost, and does not produce abnormalnoise in shaking, as well as a vibration damping structure using thesame.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible toprovide a damper which is capable of generating a large damping forcewithout enlarging the occupying space in the axial direction and theweight and without causing an undesirable situation such as contactbetween the elongated bodies, as well as a vibration damping structureusing the same.

Hereafter, a more detailed description will be given of the presentinvention and the mode for carrying it out with reference to thepreferred embodiments shown in the drawings. It should be noted that thepresent invention is not limited to these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline I-I shown in FIG. 2, of a preferred embodiment in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline II-II, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline IV-IV shown in FIG. 2, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the preferred embodiment inaccordance with the invention using the example shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline VI-VI, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline VII-VII shown in FIG. 8, of another preferred embodiment inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrows alongline VIII-VIII, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrowsalong line X-X shown in FIG. 8, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an external view of still another preferred embodiment inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view, taken in the direction of arrowsalong line XIII-XIII shown in FIG. 12, of the embodiment shown in FIG.11;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a further preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a still furtherpreferred embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a further preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a further preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a portion of theembodiment shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory right side view of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a portion of theembodiment shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory left side view of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a further preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a further preferredembodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory front cross-sectional view of a furtherpreferred embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory plan cross-sectional view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory front cross-sectional view of a furtherpreferred embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory plan cross-sectional view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory front cross-sectional view of a furtherpreferred embodiment in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 29 is a right side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 28.

EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 to 6, a damping wall structure 1 as a vibration dampingstructure in accordance with this embodiment has a damper 7 which iscapable of extending and contracting in an axial direction X and isdisposed in the form of a diagonal brace in a wall space 6 defined byleft and right columns 2 and 3 and upper and lower horizontal members 4and 5 of a building.

The building in this embodiment is a high-rise building. Dampers,although not shown, are similarly disposed, as required, in the form ofdiagonal braces in wall spaces of the same story adjacent to the wallspace 6 in this predetermined story and in wall spaces in stories higherand lower than this predetermined story, in addition to the wall space 6in a predetermined story. In addition, although in the illustratedexample, one damper 7 is disposed in the wall space 6, two or moredampers 7 may be disposed.

The damper 7 includes a hollow outer elongated body 21 formed of acylindrical member; a hollow inner elongated body 22 similarly formed ofa cylindrical member; a viscous body or a viscoelastic body, i.e., aviscous body 26 in this embodiment, which is disposed in a cylindricalgap 25 between a cylindrical inner surface 23 of the elongated body 21and a cylindrical outer surface 24 of the elongated body 22 in such amanner as to be in contact with the inner surface 23 and the outersurface 24 of these elongated bodies 21 and 22, respectively;rectangular attaching plate members 31 and 32 which are respectivelysecured to a closed-side other end portion 29, in the axial direction X,of the elongated body 21 having one end portion 28 on an open end 27side and to a closed-side one end portion 30 of the elongated body 22,respectively; and a holding means 33 for holding the gap 25 between theinner surface 23 of the elongated body 21 at the one end portion 28 ofthe elongated body 21 and the outer surface 24 of the elongated body 22.

The elongated body 21 consists of a bottomed cylindrical member having adisk-shaped bottom portion 35 and a hollow cylindrical portion 36 whichis formed integrally with the bottom portion 35 and whose other endportion 29 side is closed by the bottom portion 35. The elongated body22 similarly consists of a bottomed cylindrical member having adisk-shaped bottom portion 37 and a hollow cylindrical portion 38 whichis formed integrally with the bottom portion 37 and whose one endportion 30 side is closed by the bottom portion 37. The hollowcylindrical portion 38 of such an elongated body 22 includes an insertedportion 39 which has the cylindrical outer surface 24 extending in theaxial direction X and disposed with the gap 25 with respect to the innersurface 23, extending in the axial direction X, of the hollowcylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body 21, and which is insertedin the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body 21 so as tobe relatively movable in the axial direction X. Further, the hollowcylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22 includes the one endportion 30 which integrally extends from the inserted portion 39 in theaxial direction and projects to the outside from the one end portion 28,in the axial direction X, of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of theelongated body 21.

The viscous body 26 is tightly filled in the gap 25 and additionally inthe interiors of the hollow cylindrical portions 36 and 38 other thanthe gap 25. It should be noted that to ensure that the leakage of theviscous body 26 from the opening end 27 of the hollow cylindricalportion 36 to the outside does not occur in the relative movement of thehollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22 in the axialdirection X with respect to the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of theelongated body 21, the viscous body 26 is not fully filled up to theopening end 27 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 in the gap 25.

The one-side attaching plate member 31, which has through holes 42 boredtherein for insertion of attaching bolts 41 and constitutes oneattaching means, is fitted in a slit 43 formed in the bottom portion 35and the other end portion 29 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of theelongated body 21, and is secured to the bottom portion 35 and the otherend portion 29 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of that elongatedbody 21 by means of welding or the like. The other-side attaching platemember 32, which has through holes 45 bored therein for insertion ofattaching bolts 44 and constitutes the other attaching means, is fittedin a slit 46 formed in the bottom portion 37 and the one end portion 30of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22, and issecured to the bottom portion 37 and the one end portion 30 of thehollow cylindrical portion 38 of that elongated body 22 by means ofwelding or the like.

The holding means 33, which can also be used as a temporarily fixingmeans, includes a cylindrical tubular body 51; and spacer members 55secured to an inner surface 53 of one end portion 52, in the axialdirection, of the tubular body 51 by means of bolts 54. The tubular body51 at its other end portion 56 in the axial direction X is secured tothe attaching plate member 32 by means of bolts 50. The spacer members55 consist of four spacer pieces 57 disposed at equal distances in thecircumferential direction of the tubular body 51. Each spacer piece 57is interposed between the one end portion 28, in the axial direction X,of the elongated body 21 and the one end portion 52 of the tubular body51, such that its inner surface 58 is in contact with an outer surface59 of the one end portion 28 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of theelongated body 21 so as to be relatively slidable in the axial directionX and in a direction R about an axis 60. Thus, the spacer members 55consisting of the four spacer pieces 57 are adapted to be partiallybrought into contact with the outer surface 59 of the one end portion 28of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body 21.

As described above, the elongated body 21 and the elongated body 22 arerelatively movable with respect to each other in the axial direction X.Moreover, a wide attaching surface 61 of the attaching plate member 31secured to the elongated body 21 is substantially parallel to a wideattaching surface 62 of the attaching plate member 32 secured to theelongated body 22. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, theelongated body 21 and the elongated body 22 are relatively rotatableabout the axis 60 in the direction R with respect to each other.

In the damper 7, if it is assumed that the thickness of the gap 25 in adirection perpendicular to the axial direction is d1, that the thicknessof the hollow cylindrical portion, in the direction perpendicular to theaxial direction, of at least one of the outer and inner elongated bodies21 and 22, i.e., the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body21 in this embodiment, is t1, and that the thickness of the hollowcylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22 in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction is t2, then the thickness d1 andthe thicknesses t1 and t2 have the relationships of the followingformulae (3) to (6):10≦d1·t1≦100  (3)0.5≦t1/d1≦8  (4)10≦d1·t2≦100  (5)0.5≦t2/d1≦8  (6)

The above-described damper 7 is connected to the column or thehorizontal member, i.e., the lower horizontal member 5 in thisembodiment, by means of the attaching plate member 31 and a connectingmeans 65 secured to the attaching plate member 31, and to the column orthe horizontal member, i.e., the upper horizontal member 4 in thisembodiment, by means of the attaching plate member 32 and a connectingmeans 66 secured to the attaching plate member 32, respectively. Thewide attaching surfaces 61 and 62 of both attaching plate members 31 and32 are disposed in parallel to the plane of the wall space 6.

The connecting means 65 includes at least one pair of splice plates,i.e., two pairs of splice plates 72 and 73 in this embodiment, forclamping at their one end portions 71 the attaching plate member 31 atthe wide attaching surfaces 61 of the attaching plate member 31; andbolts 41 inserted in the through holes 42 to fasten the one end portions71 of the pairs of splice plates 72 and 73 onto the attaching platemember 31. The other end portions 74 of the pairs of splice plates 72and 73 are secured by the bolts 41 to a bracket 75 secured to the lowerhorizontal member 5 by welding, bolts, or the like.

The connecting means 66 includes at least one pair of splice plates,i.e., two pairs of splice plates 82 (one pair of splice plates are notshown) in this embodiment, for clamping at their one end portions 81 theattaching plate member 32 at the wide attaching surfaces 62 of theattaching plate member 32; and bolts 44 inserted in the through holes 45to fasten the one end portions 81 of the pairs of splice plates 82 ontothe attaching plate member 32. The other end portions 84 of the pairs ofsplice plates 82 are secured by the bolts 44 to a bracket 85 secured tothe upper horizontal member 4 by welding, bolts, or the like.

In the above-described damping wall structure 1, the elongated body 22is relatively moved in the axial direction X with respect to theelongated body 21 in the relative vibration of the lower horizontalmember 5 with respect to the upper horizontal member 4 in a horizontaldirection H within the plane of the wall space 6 owing to an earthquakeor the like. In consequence, the viscous body 26 disposed in the gap 25is caused to undergo viscous shear deformation and is capable ofabsorbing the relative vibrational energy, thereby making it possible todamp at an early period the vibration of the building caused by theearthquake or the like. Moreover, in the relative vibration of thecolumns 2 and 3 and the upper and lower horizontal members 4 and 5 in anout-of-plane direction (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of thedrawing in FIG. 5), it is possible to follow such relative vibrationwithout much strain by means of easy deflection of both attaching platemembers 31 and 32 in the out-of-plane direction. Consequently, it ispossible to exhibit a desired damping effect. Further, the damper 7 isconnected to the upper and lower horizontal members 4 and 5,respectively, through frictional joining by using, instead of the swivelfittings, the splice plates 72, 73, and 82 for clamping theattaching-plate members 31 and 32 at the wide attaching surfaces 61 and62 of the attaching plate members 31 and 32, respectively. Therefore,abnormal noise does not occur, and looseness in installation does notoccur. Additionally, it is possible to attain low cost, and theconnection is firm despite a simple construction.

In the damping wall structure 1, by virtue of the frictional joiningbetween the splice plates 72, 73, and 82 and the attaching plate members31 and 32 and the frictional joining between the splice plates 72, 73,and 82 and the brackets 75 and 85, it is possible to attain firmerconnection of the damper 7. Furthermore, the operation of installing thedamper 7 in the wall space 6 can be simplified, the operating time canbe reduced substantially, and the replacement of the damper 7 can beeffected easily.

In the damping wall structure 1, as a result of the fact that the wideattaching surfaces 61 and 62 of the attaching plate members 31 and 31are disposed in parallel to the plane of the wall space 6, it ispossible to obtain the advantages derived from the above-describeddamper 7, and the building can damped without narrowing the space beingused.

Furthermore, with the damper 7, since the attaching plate members 31 and32 are respectively fitted in the slits 43 and 46 formed in theelongated body 21 and the elongated body 22, and are secured to theelongated body 21 and the elongated body 22, the securing of theattaching plate members 31 and 32 to the respective elongated body 21and elongated body 22 can be made firmer. It is thus possible to avoid atroublesome situation in which the respective attaching plate members 31and 32 become removed from the elongated body 21 and the elongated body22 over a long period of use.

In addition, with the damper 7, the product (d1·t1) of the thickness d1of the gap 25 and the thickness t1 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36is not less than 10 and not more than 100, and the ratio (t1/d1) betweenthe thickness d1 of the gap 25 and the thickness t1 of the hollowcylindrical portion 36 is not less than 0.5 and not more than 8.Meanwhile, the product (d1·t2) of the thickness d1 of the gap 25 and thethickness t2 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 is not less than 10and not more than 100, and the ratio (t2/d1) between the thickness d1 ofthe gap 25 and the thickness t2 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 isnot less than 0.5 and not more than 8. Therefore, the strength of thehollow cylindrical portions 36 and 38 is sufficiently ensuredirrespective of the magnitude of the thickness d1. Moreover, it becomespossible to provide the damper 7 having the hollow cylindrical portions36 and 38 having the weight and diameters corresponding to the magnitudeof the damping force generated. Further, it is possible to allow theheat generated in the viscous body 26 to escape efficiently and speedilythrough the hollow cylindrical portions 36 and 38 and eliminate atemperature rise of the viscous body 26 itself, thereby making itpossible to generate an intended damping force. Additionally, sincelarge pressure fluctuations are not caused in the viscous body 26 evenin the relative movement of the elongated body 22 in the axial directionX with respect to the elongated body 21, it becomes possible toefficiently damp the vibration of the building or the like caused by theearthquake or the like.

Incidentally, although the above-described damper 7 is provided with theouter elongated body 21 and the inner elongated body 22, a damper 101may alternatively be constructed by including a hollow elongated body102 in addition to the elongated body 21 and the elongated body 22, asshown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

In the damper 101 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the elongated body 22 is anintermediate elongated body located midway between the elongated body 21and the elongated body 102, and the elongated body 102 is an innerelongated body disposed on the inner side with respect to both of theelongated body 21 and the elongated body 22.

In the damper 101, the outer elongated body 21 has, instead of thedisk-shaped bottom portion 35, an annular bottom portion 103 which isintegral with the hollow cylindrical portion 36. The inner hollowelongated body 102, which is formed of a cylindrical member in the sameway as the elongated body 21 and the intermediate elongated body 22,consists of a bottomed cylindrical member having a disk-shaped bottomportion 104 and a hollow cylindrical portion 106 which is formedintegrally with the bottom portion 104 and whose one end portion 105side is closed by the bottom portion 104. As for the elongated body 21,its bottom portion 103 is secured to the bottom portion 104 by weldingor the like and is integrated with the elongated body 102. The hollowcylindrical portion 106 of such an elongated body 102 includes aninserted portion 110 which has a cylindrical outer surface 109 extendingin the axial direction X and disposed with a gap 108 with respect to acylindrical inner surface 107, extending in the axial direction X, ofthe hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22, and which isinserted in the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction X. Further, thehollow cylindrical portion 106 of the elongated body 102 includes theone end portion 105 which integrally extends from the inserted portion110 in the axial direction X and projects to outside the hollowcylindrical portion 38 from the other end portion 112 on an opening end111 side, in the axial direction X, of the hollow cylindrical portion38. The viscous body 26 is disposed in the gap 108 as well in additionto the gap 25 in such a manner as to be in contact with the innersurface 107 and the outer surface 109. The attaching plate member 31 isfitted in the slit 43 formed in the bottom portion 103 and the other endportion 29 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body 21and in a slit 113 formed in the bottom portion 104 and the one endportion 105 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106 of the elongated body102, and is secured to the bottom portion 103 and the other end portion29 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of that outer elongated body 21and to the bottom portion 104 and the one end portion 105 of the hollowcylindrical portion 106 of the elongated body 102. The viscous body 26is tightly filled in the gaps 25 and 108 and in the interiors of thehollow cylindrical portions 36 and 38 other than the gaps 25 and 108,and also in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 106.

In the damper 101, spacer pieces 121, 122, and 123 equivalent to thespacer pieces 57 of the spacer members 55 are respectively secured tothe outer surface 24 of the other end portion 112 of the hollowcylindrical portion 38, the outer surface 109 on the one end portion 105side of the hollow cylindrical portion 106, and the outer surface 109 ofthe other end portion 124 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106. Thegaps 25 and 108 are held such that outer surfaces of the spacer pieces121, 122, and 123 are respectively adapted to be brought into contactwith the inner surface 23 of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 and theinner surface 107 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 so as to berelatively slidable in the axial direction X and in the direction Rabout the axis 60.

With the damper 101 as well, the elongated bodies 21 and 102 and theelongated body 22 are relatively movable with respect to each other inthe axial direction X. The wide attaching surface 61 of the attachingplate member 31 secured to the elongated bodies 21 and 102 issubstantially parallel to the wide attaching surface 62 of the attachingplate member 32 secured to the elongated body 22. The elongated bodies21 and 102 and the elongated body 22 in this embodiment are relativelyrotatable about the axis 60 in the direction R with respect to eachother.

Furthermore, in the damper 101 as well, if it is assumed that thethickness of the gap 25 in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection is d1, that the thickness of the gap 108 in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction is d2, and that the thickness ofthe hollow cylindrical portion, in the direction perpendicular to theaxial direction, of at least one of the outer and inner elongated bodies21 and 102 and the intermediate elongated body 22, i.e., the thicknessesof the hollow cylindrical portions 36, 38, and 106 of the elongatedbodies 21, 22, and 102 in this embodiment, are t1, t2, and t3,respectively, then the thicknesses d1 and d2 and the thicknesses t1, t2,and t3 have the relationships of the following formulae (7) to (14):10≦d1·t1≦100  (7)0.5≦t1/d1≦8  (8)10≦d1·t2≦100  (9)0.5≦t2/d1≦8  (10)10≦d2·t2≦100  (11)0.5≦t2/d2≦8  (12)10≦d2·t3≦100  (13)0.5≦t3/d2≦8  (14)

In the same way as the damper 7, the above-described damper 101 is usedin the damping wall structure 1 in place of the damper 7 by beingconnected to the lower horizontal member 5 by means of the connectingmeans 65 shown in FIG. 5 and to the upper horizontal member 4 by meansof the connecting means 66, respectively, such that the wide attachingsurfaces 61 and 62 of both attaching plate members 31 and 32 aredisposed in parallel to the plane of the wall space 6.

With the damping wall structure 1 having the damper 101, it is possibleto obtain the advantages in the same way as the above-described dampingwall structure 1 having the damper 7. Moreover, in the relative movementof the elongated body 22 in the axial direction X with respect to theelongated bodies 21 and 102 due to an earthquake or the like, viscousshear deformation is caused to occur not only in the viscous body 26disposed in the gap 25 but also in the viscous body 26 disposed in thegap 108, making it possible to absorb the relative vibrational energy.In consequence, it is possible to damp at an early period the vibrationof the building caused by the earthquake or the like. In addition, withthe damper 101, in the same way as the damper 7, the securing of theattaching plate members 31 and 32 to the respective elongated bodies 21,22, and 102 can be made firmer. It is thus possible to avoid thetroublesome situation in which the respective attaching plate members 31and 32 become removed from the elongated bodies 21, 22, and 102 over along period of use.

Further, with the damper 101, the strength of the hollow cylindricalportions 36, 38, and 106 of the elongated bodies 21, 22, and 102 issufficiently ensured irrespective of the magnitudes of the thicknessesd1 and d2. Moreover, it becomes possible to provide the damper 101having the hollow cylindrical portions 36, 38, and 106 having the weightand diameters corresponding to the magnitude of the damping forcegenerated. Further, it is possible to allow the heat generated in theviscous body 26 to escape efficiently and speedily through the hollowcylindrical portions 36, 38, and 106 of the elongated bodies 21, 22, and102 and eliminate a temperature rise of the viscous body 26 itself,thereby making it possible to generate an intended damping force.Additionally, since large pressure fluctuations are not caused in theviscous body 26 even in the relative movement of the elongated body 22in the axial direction X with respect to the elongated bodies 21 and102, it becomes possible to efficiently damp the vibration of thebuilding or the like caused by the earthquake or the like.

A description has been given above of the damper 7 having a singleelongated body 21 and a single elongated body 22 or the damper 101having single elongated bodies 21, 22, 102, respectively. Alternatively,however, a plurality of sets of the elongated body 21 and the elongatedbody 22 or a plurality of sets of the elongated bodies 21, 22, and 102may be provided, or a plurality of sets of the elongated bodies 21, 22,102, and 202, which will be described later, e.g., two sets of theelongated body 21 and the elongated body 22, may be provided so as tomake up a damper 131, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. In the damper 131shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the two elongated bodies 21 are integrated bybeing secured to each other by welding or the like. The attaching platemember 31 is used in common for the respective elongated bodies 21 bybeing secured to the respective elongated bodies 21 in the same way asdescribed above. The attaching plate member 32 is also used in commonfor the respective elongated bodies 22 by being secured to therespective elongated bodies 22 in the same way as described above.

In the damper 131, the tubular body 51 of the holding means 33 has anelliptical shape instead of the cylindrical shape, and is used in commonfor the respective elongated bodies 21 and 22 by surrounding the one endportions 28 of the elongated bodies 21 and 22 in the same way as theattaching plate members 31 and 32.

In the same way as the damper 7, the above-described damper 131 can alsobe used in the damping wall structure 1 in place of the damper 7 bybeing connected to the lower horizontal member 5 by means of theconnecting means 65 and to the upper horizontal member 4 by means of theconnecting means 66, respectively, such that the wide attaching surfaces61 and 62 of both attaching plate members 31 and 32 are disposed inparallel to the plane of the wall space 6. Also with the damping wallstructure 1 having the damper 131, in the relative movement of the twoelongated bodies 22 in the axial direction X with respect to the twoelongated bodies 21 due to an earthquake or the like, viscous sheardeformation is caused to occur in the viscous body 26 disposed in thetwo gaps 25, making it possible to absorb the relative vibrationalenergy. In consequence, it is possible to damp at an early period thevibration of the building caused by the earthquake or the like. The sameapplies to the cases of dampers having a plurality of sets of theelongated bodies 21, 22, and 102 and a plurality of sets of theelongated bodies 21, 22, 102, and 202.

In each of the above-described dampers 7, 101, and 131, the opening end27 of the elongated body 21 is set in an open state as it is. However,to prevent the entry of rainwater and dust into the gap 25 from theopening end 27, in a case where, for example, the opening end 27 issealed by a sealing member 141 to hermetically seal the viscous body 26in the damper 7, as shown in FIG. 14, the damper 7 may be constructed byincluding a control means 142 for controlling an increase or decrease ofthe internal pressure of the viscous body 26 in the extension orretraction of the inserted portion 39 of the elongated body 22 in theaxial direction X with respect to the interior of the elongated body 21.

The control means 142 shown in FIG. 14 has a bellows-like flexiblepartition wall 145 made of a rubber member or the like for partitioningthe interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 which is a hollowportion of the elongated body 22 into a chamber 144 with the viscousbody 26 filled therein and an air chamber 146, and for increasing ordecreasing the volume of the chamber 144 by the increase or decrease ofthe internal pressure of the viscous body 26. An outer peripheral end ofthe flexible partition wall 145 is secured to the inner surface 107 ofthe hollow cylindrical portion 38. In the case of such a control means142, the air chamber 146, which is an interior of the hollow cylindricalportion 38 and is adjacent to the chamber 144 partitioned by theflexible partition wall 145, may be filled with air and may behermetically sealed. If necessary, however, a through hole 147 may bebored in the hollow cylindrical portion 38 to allow the air chamber 146to communicate with the outside.

In each of the dampers 7 and 101, instead of disposing the flexiblepartition wall 145 in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38by securing the outer peripheral end of the flexible partition wall 145to the inner surface 107 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38, theflexible partition wall 145 may be disposed in the interior of thehollow cylindrical portion 36 by securing the outer peripheral end ofthe flexible partition wall 145 to the inner surface 23 of the hollowcylindrical portion 36. In short, it suffices if the flexible partitionwall 145 is disposed in the damper 7 or 101 so as to form the airchamber 146 capable of controlling the increase or decrease of theinternal pressure of the viscous body 26 in the operation.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, the control means 142 may include acompressible body 148 such as an air bag, foam rubber, a sponge, or thelike which is embedded in the viscous body 26 filled in the interior ofthe hollow cylindrical portion 38, in substitution for or together withthe flexible partition wall 145. Such a compressible body 148, insteadof or together with being embedded in the viscous body 26 filled in theinterior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38, may be embedded in theviscous body 26 filled in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion36 outside the hollow cylindrical portion 38, or in the viscous body 26filled in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 106 in the caseof the damper 101 shown in FIG. 9. In short, it suffices if thecompressible body 148 is also embedded in the viscous body 26 so as tobe capable of controlling the increase or decrease of the internalpressure of the viscous body 26 in the operation.

In the case where the flexible partition wall 145 is disposed in theinterior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22in the damper 101, for example, the elongated body 102 may be formed ofa solid member instead of the hollow member. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 16, the elongated body 102 may be formed of a hollow member havingthe hollow cylindrical portion 106 whose other end portion 124 side isalso closed by a bottom portion 149. In the damper 101 shown in FIG. 16,the viscous body may not be filled inside the hollow cylindrical portion106.

In each of the above-described dampers 7, 101, and 131, the respectiveattaching means is formed by the single attaching plate members 31 and32. Alternatively, however, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, the damper 7,for instance, may be constructed by including additional singleattaching plate members 151 and 152 in addition to the single attachingplate members 31 and 32, namely, by including one attaching means havingone pair of attaching plate members 31 and 151 and the other attachingmeans having the other pair of attaching plate members 32 and 152.

The other one-side attaching plate member 151 has attaching plate pieces155 and 156. In the same way as the attaching plate member 31, theattaching plate piece 155 is fitted in a slit 157 formed in the bottomportion 35 and the hollow cylindrical portion 36, and is secured to thebottom portion 35, the hollow cylindrical portion 36, and the attachingplate member 31 by welding or the like. In the same way as the attachingplate piece 155, the attaching plate piece 156 is fitted in a slit 158formed in the bottom portion 35 and the hollow cylindrical portion 36,and is secured to the bottom portion 35, the hollow cylindrical portion36, and the attaching plate member 31 by welding or the like. A widesurface 159 of the attaching plate member 151 consisting of theattaching plate pieces 155 and 156 intersects, i.e., orthogonallyintersects in this embodiment, the wide attaching surface 61 of theattaching plate member 31.

The other other-side attaching plate member 152 has attaching platepieces 165 and 166. In the same way as the attaching plate member 32,the attaching plate piece 165 is fitted in a slit 167 formed in thebottom portion 37 and the hollow cylindrical portion 38, and is securedto the bottom portion 37, the hollow cylindrical portion 38, and theattaching plate member 32 by welding or the like. In the same way as theattaching plate piece 165, the attaching plate piece 166 is fitted in aslit 168 formed in the bottom portion 37 and the hollow cylindricalportion 38, and is secured to the bottom portion 37, the hollowcylindrical portion 38, and the attaching plate member 32 by welding orthe like. A wide surface 169 of the attaching plate member 152consisting of the attaching plate pieces 165 and 166 intersects, i.e.,orthogonally intersects in this embodiment, the wide attaching surface62 of the attaching plate member 32.

According to the damper 7 shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, the attaching platemembers 151 and 152 are respectively secured to the other end portion 29of the elongated body 21 and the one end portion 30 of the elongatedbody 22 by means of the slits 157, 158, 167 and 168. Therefore, thesecuring of the attaching plate members 151 and 152 to the respectiveelongated bodies 21 and 22 can be made firmer. It is thus possible toavoid the troublesome situation in which the attaching plate members 151and 152 become respectively removed from the elongated bodies 21 and 22over a long period of use. Furthermore, since the wide surface 159 ofthe attaching plate member 151 orthogonally intersects the wideattaching surface 61 of the attaching plate member 31, and the widesurface 169 of the attaching plate member 152 orthogonally intersectsthe wide attaching surface 62 of the attaching plate member 32, it ispossible to increase the flexural strength of the attaching platemembers 31, 32, 151, and 152.

The above-described dampers 7 and 101 are constructed by including theholding means 33. However, the damping wall structure 1 may beconstructed by the damper 7 or 101 not including the holding means 33,by using the holding means 33 as the temporarily fixing means withrespect to the elongated body 21 before the installation of the damper 7and 101 in the wall space 6 by means of the connecting means 66, and byloosening the bolts 50 and 54 and removing the holding means 33 afterthe installation in the wall space 6 by means of the connecting means66. In this case, spacer pieces similar to the spacer pieces 121, 122,and 123 may be appropriately disposed newly or additionally, asrequired, between the hollow cylindrical portion 36 and the hollowcylindrical portion 38 and between the hollow cylindrical portion 38 andthe hollow cylindrical portion 106.

In addition, in the damper 7 or 101 in which the holding means 33 isomitted, a storage means may be provided for storing the viscous body 26leaking from the gap 25 to the outside due to a temperature rise. Forinstance, as shown in FIG. 22, a storage means 171 provided in thedamper 101 has a hollow cylindrical portion 174 secured to an outersurface 173 of the one end portion 28 of the hollow cylindrical portion36 in the elongated body 21. An annular storage space 177 is formed bythe outer surface 24 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 and an innersurface 175 of the hollow cylindrical portion 174. To prevent theleakage of the viscous body 26 from the storage space 177 to outside thedamper 101 and the entry of rainwater and dust into the storage space177 from outside the damper 101, an annular cover member 176 is fittedbetween the hollow cylindrical portion 38 and the hollow cylindricalportion 174 so as to be slidable in the axial direction X with respectto the outer surface 24 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of theelongated body 22 and to be secured to the inner surface 175 of thehollow cylindrical portion 174. As for the storage space 177, its widthds in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction X is greater thanthe thickness d1. Consequently, the arrangement provided is such thateven if a large quantity of viscous body 26 has overflowed from the gap25, the viscous body 26 can be stored in the storage space 177 without aproblem. It goes without saying that such a storage means 171 may besimilarly provided for the damper 7.

With the damper 101 shown in FIG. 16, the control means 142 is formed bythe flexible partition wall 145. Alternatively, however, as shown inFIG. 22, a disk-shaped closure member 181 may be is secured in theinterior of the one end portion 105 of the hollow cylindrical portion106 to partition the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 106 intoa closed space 182 and a space 183. Additionally, an annular member 184may be similarly secured in the interior of the one end portion 105 ofthe hollow cylindrical portion 106 on the space 183 side by beinglocated away from the closure member 181 in the axial direction X, toform an air chamber 185 and a space 187 with the viscous body 26disposed therein. The control means 142 may thus be formed by the airchamber 185 communicating with the space 187 through a central hole 186provided in the annular member 184. In the case where the damper 101 isprovided with the control means 142 consisting of such an air chamber185, it suffices if one or more through holes 188 allowing gaps 25 and108 and the space 187 to communicate with each other are provided in theone end portion 105 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106, as shown inFIG. 22.

The air chamber 185 is adapted to decrease or increase its volume by theentry or exit of the viscous body 26 with respect to the air chamber 185due to the increase or decrease of the internal pressure of the viscousbody 26 in the relative movement of the elongated body 22 in the axialdirection X with respect to the elongated bodies 21 and 102. Hence, theair chamber 185 is adapted to control the increase or decrease of theinternal pressure of the viscous body 26 caused by the extension orretraction of the elongated body 22 with respect to the interior of theelongated body 21 and by the extension or retraction of the elongatedbody 102 with respect to the interior of the elongated body 22. In thedamper 7 as well, an air chamber similar to the air chamber 185 may beformed in the interior of the other end side 112 of the hollowcylindrical portion 38, and the control means 142 may be formed by suchan air chamber.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 22, a filling hole 191 with a plug may beprovided in the other end portion 29 of the hollow cylindrical portion36, and the filling hole 191 may be closed by the plug after the viscousbody 26 is filled in the elongated body 21 and the like through thefilling hole 191 before or after the installation in the wall space 6.To form the air chamber 185, in a state in which the cover member 176 isnot fitted between the hollow cylindrical portion 38 and the hollowcylindrical portion 174, the filling of the viscous body 26 into theelongated body 21 and the like is effected by setting the damper 101diagonally or uprightly, such that the pair of attaching plate members32 and 152 secured to the one end portion 30 of the elongated body 22through slits similar to the aforementioned ones are located higher thanthe pair of attaching plate members 31 and 151 secured to the other endportion 29 of the elongated body 21 and the one end portion 105 of theelongated body 102, respectively, through slits similar to theaforementioned ones. After the filling, it suffices if the cover member176 is fitted between the hollow cylindrical portion 38 and the hollowcylindrical portion 174. In addition, to fill the viscous body 26 in theentire interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 in addition to thegap 108, by providing an air discharge port in the bottom portion 37,the filling of the viscous body 26 into the elongated body 21 and thelike through the filling hole 191 may be continued even after thefitting of the cover member 176 between the hollow cylindrical portion38 and the hollow cylindrical portion 174, and after the viscous body 26is filled in the entire interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38,the air discharge port may be closed. Further, the viscous body 26 maybe filled in the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 throughsuch an air discharge port, and after the viscous body 26 is filled inthe entire interior of the hollow cylindrical portion 38, the airdischarge port may be closed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 22, the attaching plate members 31 and 32may be respectively provided with tongue portions 193 and 194 eachhaving a through hole 192 for suspending the damper 101 in thetransport, installation, temporary fixation, and the like of the damper101.

Although the above-described damper 101 is constructed by including theelongated bodies 21, 22, and 102, a damper 201 may alternatively beconstructed by further including the hollow elongated body 202 inaddition to the elongated bodies 21, 22, and 102, as shown in FIG. 23.

In the damper 201 shown in FIG. 23, the elongated bodies 22 and 102 areintermediate elongated bodies located midway between the elongatedbodies 21 and 202. Accordingly, one intermediate elongated body isformed by the elongated body 22, while the other intermediate elongatedbody is formed by the elongated body 102. The elongated body 202 is aninner elongated body disposed on the inner side with respect to therespective elongated bodies 21, 22, and 102.

In the damper 201, the elongated body 22 has an annular bottom portion211 which is integral with its hollow cylindrical portion 36. In thesame way as the elongated body 102, the inner hollow elongated body 202consists of a bottomed cylindrical member having a disk-shaped bottomportion 212 and a hollow cylindrical portion 214 which is formedintegrally with the bottom portion 212 and whose one end portion 213side is closed by the bottom portion 212. As for the elongated body 22,its bottom portion 211 is secured to the bottom portion 212 by weldingor the like and is integrated with the elongated body 202. The hollowcylindrical portion 214 of the elongated body 202 includes an insertedportion 221 which has an outer surface 218 extending in the axialdirection X and disposed with a gap 217 with respect to an inner surface216, extending in the axial direction X, of the hollow cylindricalportion 106 of the elongated body 102, and which is inserted in thehollow cylindrical portion 106 of the elongated body 102 so as to berelatively movable in the axial direction X. Further, the hollowcylindrical portion 214 of the 202 includes the one end portion 213which integrally extends from the inserted portion 221 in the axialdirection X and projects to outside the hollow cylindrical portion 106from the other end portion 124 on an opening end 222 side, in the axialdirection X, of the hollow cylindrical portion 106. The viscous body 26is disposed in the gap 217 as well in addition to the gaps 25 and 108 insuch a manner as to be in contact with the inner surface 216 and theouter surface 218. The attaching plate members 32 and 152 arerespectively fitted in the slit formed in the bottom portion 211 and theone end portion 30 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongatedbody 22 and in the slit formed in the bottom portion 212 and the one endportion 213 of the hollow cylindrical portion 214 of the elongated body202, and is secured to the bottom portion 211 and the one end portion 30of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of that outer elongated body 22 andto the bottom portion 212 and the one end portion 213 of the hollowcylindrical portion 214 of the elongated body 202, in the same way asdescribed above. The viscous body 26 is tightly filled in the gaps 25,108, and 217 and in the interiors of the hollow cylindrical portions 36,38, and 106 other than the gaps 25, 108, and 217.

In addition, in the damper 201 as well, the attaching plate members 31and 151 serving as the one attaching means are secured to the elongatedbodies 21 and 102 in the same way as the damper 101.

Furthermore, in the damper 201, in addition to the spacer pieces 121,122, and 123, spacer pieces 225 and 226 equivalent to the spacer pieces121, 122, and 123 are provided by being respectively secured to theouter surface 218 of the hollow cylindrical portion 214. Outer surfacesof the spacer pieces 225 and 226 are brought into contact with the innersurface 216 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106 so as to be relativelyslidable in the axial direction X and in the direction R about the axis60, and the gap 217 is thus held by the spacer pieces 225 and 226.

With the damper 201 as well, the elongated bodies 21 and 102 and theelongated bodies 22 and 202 are relatively movable with respect to eachother in the axial direction X. The wide attaching surface 61 of theattaching plate member 31, which is secured to the other end portion 29of the elongated body 21 and the one end portion 105 of the elongatedbody 102, respectively, through slits similar to the aforementionedones, is substantially parallel to the wide attaching surface 62 of theattaching plate member 32, which is secured to the one end portion 30 ofthe elongated body 22 and the one end portion 213 of the elongated body202, respectively, through slits similar to the aforementioned ones. Theelongated bodies 21 and 102 and the elongated bodies 22 and 202 in thisembodiment are also relatively rotatable about the axis 60 in thedirection R with respect to each other.

In the damper 201, if it is assumed that the thickness of the gap 25 inthe direction perpendicular to the axial direction is d1, that thethickness of the gap 108 in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection is d2, that the thickness of the gap 217 in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction is d3, and that the thickness ofthe hollow cylindrical portion, in the direction perpendicular to theaxial direction, of at least one of the outer and inner elongated bodies21 and 202 and the intermediate elongated bodies 22 and 202, i.e., thethicknesses of the hollow cylindrical portions 36, 38, 106, and 214 ofthe elongated bodies 21, 22, 102, and 202 in this embodiment, are t1,t2, t3, and t4, respectively, then the thicknesses d1, d2, and d3 andthe thicknesses t1, t2, t3 and t4 have the relationships of thefollowing formulae (15) to (26):10≦d1·t1≦100  (15)0.5≦t1/d1≦8  (16)10≦d1·t2≦100  (17)0.5≦t2/d1≦8  (18)10≦d2·t2≦100  (19)0.5≦t2/d2≦8  (20)10≦d2·t3≦100  (21)0.5≦t3/d2≦8  (22)10≦d3·t3≦100  (23)0.5≦t3/d3≦8  (24)10≦d3·t4≦100  (25)0.5≦t4/d3≦8  (26)

Furthermore, in the damper 201, a disk-shaped closure member 232 may besecured in the interior of the other end portion 231 of the hollowcylindrical portion 214 to partition the interior of the hollowcylindrical portion 214 into a closed space 233 and a space 234.Additionally, an annular member 235 may be similarly secured in theinterior of the other end portion 231 of the hollow cylindrical portion214 on the space 234 side by being located away from the closure member232 in the axial direction X, to form an air chamber 236. The controlmeans 142 may thus be formed by the air chamber 236 communicating withthe gap 217 and the like through a central hole 237 provided in theannular member 235. Such a control means 142 is also adapted to controlthe increase or decrease of the internal pressure of the viscous body 26caused by the extension or retraction of each of the elongated bodies 22and 202 with respect to the interior of each of the elongated bodies 21and 102, by the use of the air chamber 236 which is formed in theinterior of the elongated body 202 and whose volume decreases orincreases due to the increase or decrease of the internal pressure ofthe viscous body 26. The damper 201 may be constructed by including thecontrol means 142 consisting of the above-described flexible partitionwall 145 or compressible body 148, in substitution for the control means142 consisting of the air chamber 236 or together with such a controlmeans 142.

With the damper 201, it is not necessary to provide the through hole 188in the one end portion 105 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106.However, if such a through hole 188 is provided in the one end portion105, the filling into the elongated body 102 can be effected speedily atthe time of the filling of the viscous body 26 into the damper 201through the filling hole 191.

In the same way as the dampers 7 and 101, the above-described damper 201is used in the damping wall structure 1 in place of the damper 7 or 101by being connected to the lower horizontal member 5 by means of theconnecting means 65 shown in FIG. 5 and to the upper horizontal member 4by means of the connecting means 66, respectively, such that the wideattaching surfaces 61 and 62 of both attaching plate members 31 and 32are disposed in parallel to the plane of the wall space 6.

With the damping wall structure 1 having the damper 201, it is possibleto obtain the advantages in the same way as the above-described dampingwall structure 1 having the damper 7 or 101. Moreover, in the relativemovement of the elongated bodies 22 and 202 in the axial direction Xwith respect to the elongated bodies 21 and 102 due to an earthquake orthe like, viscous shear deformation is caused to occur not only in theviscous body 26 disposed in the gaps 25 and 108 but also in the viscousbody 26 disposed in the gap 217, making it possible to absorb therelative vibrational energy. In consequence, it is possible to damp atan early period the vibration of the building caused by the earthquakeor the like. In addition, with the damper 201, in the same way as thedampers 7 and 101, the securing of the attaching plate members 31 and 32to the respective elongated bodies 21, 22, 102, and 202 can be madefirmer. It is thus possible to avoid the troublesome situation in whichthe respective attaching plate members 31 and 32 become removed from theelongated bodies 21, 22, 102, and 202 over a long period of use. Stillfurther, since the attaching plate members 151 and 152 are provided, theflexural strength of the attaching plate members 31 and 32 is increased.

Further, with the damper 201, the strength of the hollow cylindricalportions 36, 38, 106, and 214 of the respective elongated bodies 21, 22,102, and 202 is sufficiently ensured irrespective of the magnitudes ofthe thicknesses d1, d2, and d3. Moreover, it becomes possible to providethe damper 201 having the weight and diameter corresponding to themagnitude of the damping force generated. Further, it is possible toallow the heat generated in the viscous body 26 to escape efficientlyand speedily through the hollow cylindrical portions 36, 38, 106, and214 of the respective elongated bodies 21, 22, 102, 202 and eliminate atemperature rise of the viscous body 26 itself, thereby making itpossible to generate an intended damping force. Additionally, sincelarge pressure fluctuations are not caused in the viscous body 26 evenin the relative movement of the elongated bodies 22 and 202 in the axialdirection X with respect to the elongated bodies 21 and 102, it becomespossible to efficiently damp the vibration of the building or the likecaused by the earthquake or the like.

In the above-described dampers 7, 101, and 201, the respective attachingmeans are formed by fitting the attaching plate members 31 and 32 intothe slits 43 and 46. Alternatively, however, the respective attachingmeans may be formed by using collar members or cover members, i.e.,cover members 241 and 242 in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 24 to29.

Namely, in the damper 101 shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the one attachingmeans includes the cover member 241 secured to the other end portion 29of the hollow cylindrical portion 36 of the elongated body 21 and to theone end portion 105 of the hollow cylindrical portion 106 of theelongated body 102, respectively, as well as the attaching plate member31 secured to the cover member 241 by welding or the like. The otherattaching means includes the cover member 242 secured to the one endportion 30 of the hollow cylindrical portion 38 of the elongated body 22by welding or the like, as well as the attaching plate member 32 securedto the cover member 242. The attaching plate member 31 is secured to thecover member 241 and is secured to the other end portion 29 of theelongated body 21 and the one end portion 105 of the elongated body 102.Meanwhile, the attaching plate member 32 is secured to the cover member242 and is secured to the one end portion 30 of the elongated body 22.

In addition, in the damper 101 shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the oneattaching means includes, in addition to the cover member 241 and theattaching plate member 31, a collar member 244 which is secured to thecover member 241 by means of bolts 243 and to which the attaching platemember 31 is secured by welding or the like. The other attaching meansincludes, in addition to the cover member 242 and the attaching platemember 32, a collar member 246 which is secured to the cover member 242by means of bolts 245 and to which the attaching plate member 32 issecured by welding or the like. The attaching plate member 31 is securedto the cover member 241 by means of the collar member 244 and the bolts243, and is secured to the other end portion 29 of the elongated body 21and the one end portion 105 of the elongated body 102. Meanwhile, theattaching plate member 32 is secured to the cover member 242 by means ofthe collar member 246 and the bolts 245, and is secured to the one endportion 30 of the elongated body 22.

Furthermore, in the damper 101 shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the oneattaching means includes, in addition to the cover member 241, theattaching plate member 31, and the collar member 244, the attachingplate member 151 secured to the attaching plate member 31 and the collarmember 244 by welding or the like. The other attaching means includes,in addition to the cover member 242, the attaching plate member 32, andthe collar member 246, the attaching plate member 152 secured to theattaching plate member 32 and the collar member 246 by welding or thelike.

As shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, the attaching plate members 31 and 32 may berespectively provided with the single through holes 42 and 45, so as toinstall the damper 101 in the wall space 6 by means of the connectingmeans having bolts which are respectively inserted in the through holes42 and 45.

The respective attaching means shown in FIGS. 24 to 29 may also be usedfor the dampers 7 and 201 in a similar manner.

Although in the foregoing embodiments each damper is disposed in thewall space 6, in substitution for or in conjunction with thisarrangement the damper may be disposed on at least one of the columns 2and 3 in such a manner as to extend substantially in parallel to thecolumns 2 and 3 in a substantially vertical direction.

1. A damper comprising: at least a hollow outer elongated body and aninner elongated body, said inner elongated body including an insertedportion which has an outer surface extending in an axial direction anddisposed with a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surfaceof said outer elongated body, and which is inserted in said outerelongated body so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction,and one end portion which integrally extends from said inserted portionin the axial direction and projects to the outside from one axial endportion of said outer elongated body, a viscous body or a viscoelasticbody being disposed in the gap between the inner surface of said outerelongated body and the outer surface of said inner elongated body insuch a manner as to be in contact with the inner surface and the outersurface, a one-side attaching plate member being secured to another endportion of said outer elongated body, an other-side attaching platemember being secured to the one end portion of said inner elongatedbody. 2-19. (canceled)
 20. A damper comprising: a hollow outer elongatedbody, an inner elongated body, and at least one hollow intermediateelongated body, said intermediate elongated body including an insertedportion which has an outer surface extending in an axial direction anddisposed with a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surfaceof said outer elongated body, and which is inserted in said outerelongated body so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction,said inner elongated body including an inserted portion which has anouter surface extending in the axial direction and disposed with a gapwith respect to an axially extending inner surface of said intermediateelongated body, a viscous body or a viscoelastic body being disposed inthe respective gaps between the inner surface of said outer elongatedbody and the outer surface of said intermediate elongated body andbetween the inner surface of said intermediate elongated body and theouter surface of said inner elongated body in such a manner as to be incontact with the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces. 21-40.(canceled)
 41. A damper comprising: a hollow outer elongated body, aninner elongated body, and at least two hollow intermediate elongatedbodies, one of said intermediate elongated bodies including an insertedportion which has an outer surface extending in an axial direction anddisposed with a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surfaceof said outer elongated body, and which is inserted in said outerelongated body so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction,another one of said intermediate elongated bodies including an insertedportion which has an outer surface extending in the axial direction anddisposed with a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surfaceof said one intermediate elongated body, and which is inserted in saidone intermediate elongated body so as to be relatively movable in theaxial direction, said inner elongated body including an inserted portionwhich has an outer surface extending in the axial direction and disposedwith a gap with respect to an axially extending inner surface of saidother intermediate elongated body, and which is inserted in said otherintermediate elongated body so as to be relatively movable in the axialdirection, a viscous body or a viscoelastic body being disposed in therespective gaps between the inner surface of said outer elongated bodyand the outer surface of said one intermediate elongated body, betweenthe inner surface of said one intermediate elongated body and the outersurface of said other intermediate elongated body, and between the innersurface of said other intermediate elongated body and the outer surfaceof said inner elongated body in such a manner as to be in contact withthe inner surfaces and the outer surfaces. 42-67. (canceled)